Movable descaler spray header

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for applying a high pressure fluid spray to descale a workpiece in a rolling mill in which the supply of fluid is controlled by the movement of various elements of the rolling mill.

United States Patent 1191 Sa lor, Jr. Ma 21 1974 y y a [54] MOVABLE DESCALER SPRAY HEADER 1,700,267 1/1929 Kneeland 72/201 1,852,271 4 1932 S h l 72 20 Inventor: William SW1", Davldsvluev 2,123,291 7/1938 72/203 2,203,733 6/1940 Leckrone 72/251 2,696,823 12/1954 Scott 134/122 [73] g t fi z f Cmmmum 3,289,449 12/1966 O'Brien 72/201 8 e 3,294,107 12/1966 Maruszewski et al. 134/122 x [22] Filed; 1972 3,479,853 11 1969 Berry 72/201 [21} Appl. No.: 296,480

Primary ExammerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs [52] US. Cl 72/39, 72/201, 7722723531, Attorney, Agent or Firm Joseph OKeef-e [51] Int. Cl. B2lb 45/08, B2 lc 43/00 [58] Field of Search 72/39, 200-202, [57] ABSTRACT 148/12 4 266/45 65 Apparatus for applying a hlgh pressure flu1d spray to descale a workpiece in a rolling mill in which the sup- [56] References Cited ply of fluid is controlled by the movement of various UNITED STATES PATENTS elements of the rolling mill. 546,623 9/1895 Potter 72/251 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Q "j 1c, a

1 I, 33 a =f k 1.1, w

1 1: A O @UUU [15D PATENTED 1m 21 1914 SHEET 1 OF 3 m iwnw milkmm WENTEDMAY 2 1 1974 SHEET 2 0F 3 PATENTEBIAYZi m4 SHEET 3 OF 3 MOVABLE DESCALER SPRAY HEADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the descaling of elongated metal products during rolling thereof in a rolling mill and particularly to controlling the position of the descaling apparatus with respect to the workpiece to prevent cobbles and/or damage to the apparatus.

The removal of scale from the surface of steel which results from the union of oxygen with iron when the steel is hot is necessary to guarantee surface finish requirements. In modern rolling mills the practice for scale removal includes the impingement of the surface of the steel'with a high pressure water spray. The proximity of the high pressure water spray to the surface being treated is important to the effectiveness of the scale removal process as is well known to those skilled in the art. The impingement force of the spray decreases rapidly as the distance from the spray nozzles increases. Therefore, by keeping this distance to an absolute minimum, the maximum efficiency of the sprays is utilized.

It is impossible in some cases, however, to maintain the spray nozzles in close proximity to the surface of the hot. moving steel workpiece. In a three-high mill, for example, where tilting tables raise and lower the workpiece as it is passed one way between the bottom and the middle rolls and the other way between the middle and the top rolls it has been necessary to maintain thespray nozzles at a substantial distance from the surface of the workpiece. The leading edge of a plate being rolled often turns up like the front of a ski. The height 'of this curl is sometimes considerable so that it is necessary that the spray apparatus be mounted high enough above the workpiece surface to avoid cobbling the plate" and/or damaging the equipment.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide improved apparatus which effectively descales the surface of a workpiece.

It is a further object of this invention to provide descaling apparatus which is readily positionable either in close proximity to the work surface or out of the way therefrom.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus for selectively descaling the surface of a workpiece.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention accomplishes these objects by providing uniquely designed apparatus comprising a spray header mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis above the roller table on either side ofa rolling mill stand. The rotation of the spray header to a raised, out of the way position, or a lowered active position is responsive to the movement of certain elements of the rolling mill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial sectional view through a three-high rolling mill stand showing the apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 3 with parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and

7 DESCRIPTION. OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and, for the present, particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention will be described in detail. A three-high rolling mill 10 comprises top roll 11, middle roll 12 and bottom roll 13 mounted in housing 14 combined with tilting table 15 on the entry side of mill l and tilting table 16 on the discharge side of mill l0. Spray header 30 terminating in a fluid spray nozzle is mounted above tiltable table 16. The main table cylinder 18 for raising the tilting tables l and 16 is a single acting hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath one of the tables and connected to the tables by lever 19, tie rod 20, and lever 21. Four constant pressure single acting table balancing cylinders 22 are located as shown. The mill is shown with workpiece W in the return pass and the spray header assembly 30 inoperating position.

The middle roll 12 is raised and lowered as the workpiece is passed one way between the bottom and middle rolls and the other way between the middle and top rolls by means of single acting hydraulic cylinders 23.

The descaler spray header 30 to which particular reference is now made is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises generally header pipe 31, manifold pipe 32, cover 33, nozzles 34 and hood 35. Header pipe 31 is utilized as a shaft and is supported by bearings 37 mounted on the end stands 36. Rotary joint 38 is provided at one end to permit the spray header 30 to rotate while maintaining a supply of high pressure, i.e., 1,200 psi. water from supply line 39. The spray header 30 is mounted above one of the tilting tables for movement about a horizontal axis which is coincident with the centerline of header pipe 31. i

The spray header 30 is rotated about the aforementioned horizontal axis by a high pressure hydraulic cylinder 40 pivotally mounted on one end stand 36 and connected to the header pipe or shaft 31 by lever 41. Stops are arranged to control the range of travel of the spray header through anarc of about 64 as seen in FIG. 4. The spray header 30 terminating in nozzle 34 is positioned to project a supply of fluid onto workpiece W at an angle of less than 45 with the vertical when the spray header 30 is in operating or first position. An angle of about to about l7 has been found to be most effective. When the spray header is rotated to the raised or second position the spray header 30 with nozzle 34 extends at an angle more than 45 from the vertical. The cylinder is actuated by water pressure from the same circuit that raises and'lowers the middle roll 12 of the mill as will be discussed in detail hereinafter.

The protective cover 33 surrounds the manifold pipe 32 and nozzles 34 and is attached to the header pipe 31. Holes 42 are provided at the bottom of the cover 33 to provide access to the. nozzles 34 for cleaning or replacement thereof. The bottom of the housing 33 has openings for the passage of fluid from the nozzles 34.

hydraulic circuit 51 which includes a first hydraulic cylinder 18 mounted beneath the tilting tables 15 and 16 for raising the tables and a second hydraulic circuit 52 which includes the hydraulic cylinders 23' for raising and lowering the middle roll 12 of the mill and hydra u lic cylinder 40 which raises and lowers the spray header assembly 30.

A third circuit 53 supplies a fluid, e.g., water at a high pressure i.e., 1,200 psi. to the spray header 30. The third circuit'includes a manually operated valve 54 for selectively supplying a fluid to the workpiece Win the descaling phase of the rolling operation. A limit switch 58 may be conveniently located on the spray header 30 support structure responsive to the rotation of the spray header 30 and connected to a solenoid operated valve .55 to control the supply of fluid onto the workpiece except when the spray header 30 is in the lowered position. The limit switch 58 prevents the accidental discharge fluid when the spray header 30 is in the raised position.

The hydraulic fluid for operating the hydraulic cylinders is supplied by pumps 56 from an accumulator (not shown). The circuit 59 for maintaining constant pressure on the tilting table constant pressure balancing cylinders 22 is also supplied by the same source.

In operation: In the reduction of a workpiece W in the rolling mill stand the heated workpiece is rolled through the first pass between the bottom roll 13 and the middle roll 12. The tilting tables 15 and 16 are in the lowered or down" position. The position of the four-way valve 50 is opposite to the position shown in FIG. 4 and the second hydraulic circuit 52 is under pressure. Pressure in the second circuit 52 actuates the middle roll cylinders 23 to move the middle roll 12 upward to form the pass between the middle roll 12 and the bottom roll l3. Pressure in the second hydraulic 'circuit 52. also actuates the spray header 30 operating top pass as is routine in the operation of a three-high mill the tilting tables 15 and 16 are raised and the middle roll 12 is lowered. The four way valve 50 is moved to a position in which the second hydraulic circuit 52 is open to exhaust and the first hydraulic circuit 51 is under pressure from the hydraulic supply source. With the first circuit 51 pressurized it is seen that main table cylinder 18 is actuated to move tables 15 and 16 up- -wardly. Since the second circuit 52 is exhausting, the

middle roll cylinders 23 are returned by the weight of the middle roll 12 to their retracted position and the return pass for the workpiece W is formed between the top roll 11 and middle roll 12. Also since the pressure in the second circuit 52 is released the spray header operating cylinder 40 is retracted as the weight of the spray header 30 rotates downwardly about a horizontal axis to a first or lowered descaler operating position. The cover 33 contacts limit switch 58 to open solenoid valve 55 permitting passage of the descaling fluid as desired by the descaler operator. As the workpiece W is moved into the rolling mill strand 10 in the return pass an operator manually operates valve 54 to selectively apply a high pressure spray of fluid onto the work-piece at an angle of impingement of about l5l 7", the angle measured from a vertical axis through the spray header 31. Fluid is supplied to the spray header 30 at about 1,200 psi. pressure by means of pump 57 drawing from a reservoir or accumulator (not shown).

The invention thus described provides improved apparatus for the selective descaling of a workpiece passing through a rolling mill. The unique design of the apparatus affords a more effective application of high pressure descaling fluid onto-the surface of the workpiece while providing means to position the spray header out of the way when necessary to avoid cobbles and/or damage to the equipment.

I claim: I

1. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a'workpiece comprising:

a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis,

b. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a first position and move said tables upwardly,

c. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a second position and move the middle roll of said mill upwardly, and

d. means for supplying said fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle less than 45 from the vertical when in said first position and saidnozzle extends at an angle more than 45 from the vertical when in said second position. Y

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle between about 15 and 17 from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45 from the vertical when in said second position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including:

paratus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece, comprisa. a spray header mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis, b. a first circuit including a first hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath said tables for raising said tables,

c. a second circuit including a second hydraulic cylinder adapted to rotate said spray header about said horizontal axis and hydraulic means mounted on said'mill adapted to raise the middle roll of said mill,

d. valve means having pressure connections and exhaust connections connecting said first circuit to said second circuit so that when one said circuit is under pressure the other said circuit is exhausted, and

e. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece when said first circuit is under pressure.

7. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece comprising:

a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis,

b. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a first position and move said ta-. bles upwardly,

0. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a second position and move the middle roll of said mill upwardly, and

d. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece which includes a limit switch responsive to the rotation of said spray header to supply fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position.

8. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece, comprismg:

a. a spray header mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis,

b. a first circuit inlcuding a first hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath said tables for raising said tables,

c. a second circuit including a second hydraulic cylinder adapted to roated said spray header about said horizontal axis and hydraulic means mounted on said mill adapted to raise the middle roll of said mill,

d. valve means having pressure connections and exhaust connections connecting said first circuit to said second circuit so that when one said circuit is under pressure the other said circuit is exhausted,

and Y e. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece which includes a limit switch responsive to the rotation of said spray header to supply fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position. v v

9. In combination with a rolling mill stand having movable tables located on opposite sides of said mill stand for positioning a workpiece for entry between a pair of rolls of said mill stand a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables,

b. means to move said spray header toward said one of said tables to a first position, and move said tables into alignment with-said pair of rolls,

0. means to move said spray header away from said one of said tables to a second position and move said tables away from said alignment with said pair of rolls, and

d. means for supplying fluid to said workpiece through said spray header when said spray header is in said first position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle less than 45 from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45 from the vertical when in said sec-.

ond position. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle between about 15 and 17 from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45 from the vertical when in said second position.

l2. Apparatus according to claim 9 further including:

d. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece. 

1. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece comprising: a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis, b. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said aXis to a first position and move said tables upwardly, c. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a second position and move the middle roll of said mill upwardly, and d. means for supplying said fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle less than 45* from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45* from the vertical when in said second position.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle between about 15* and 17* from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45* from the vertical when in said second position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including: e. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spray header comprises a header pipe rotatable about said horizontal axis, a manifold pipe connected to said header pipe and nozzles mounted on said manifold pipe to direct said fluid onto said workpiece.
 6. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece, comprising: a. a spray header mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis, b. a first circuit including a first hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath said tables for raising said tables, c. a second circuit including a second hydraulic cylinder adapted to rotate said spray header about said horizontal axis and hydraulic means mounted on said mill adapted to raise the middle roll of said mill, d. valve means having pressure connections and exhaust connections connecting said first circuit to said second circuit so that when one said circuit is under pressure the other said circuit is exhausted, and e. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece when said first circuit is under pressure.
 7. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece comprising: a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis, b. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a first position and move said tables upwardly, c. means to simultaneously rotate said spray header about said axis to a second position and move the middle roll of said mill upwardly, and d. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece which includes a limit switch responsive to the rotation of said spray header to supply fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position.
 8. In combination with a three-high rolling mill and tilting tables located on opposite sides of said mill, apparatus for supplying a fluid to a workpiece, comprising: a. a spray header mounted above one of said tables for rotation about a horizontal axis, b. a first circuit inlcuding a first hydraulic cylinder mounted beneath said tables for raising said tables, c. a second circuit including a second hydraulic cylinder adapted to roated said spray header about said horizontal axis and hydraulic means mounted on said mill adapted to raise the middle roll of said mill, d. valve means having pressure connections and exhaust connections connecting said first circuit to said second circuit so that when one said circuit is under pressure the other said circuit is exhausted, and e. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece which includes a limit switch responsive to the rotation of said spray header to supply fluid to said workpiece when said spray header is in said first position.
 9. In combination with a rolling mill stand having moVable tables located on opposite sides of said mill stand for positioning a workpiece for entry between a pair of rolls of said mill stand a. a spray header terminating in a fluid spray nozzle and mounted above one of said tables, b. means to move said spray header toward said one of said tables to a first position, and move said tables into alignment with said pair of rolls, c. means to move said spray header away from said one of said tables to a second position and move said tables away from said alignment with said pair of rolls, and d. means for supplying fluid to said workpiece through said spray header when said spray header is in said first position.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle less than 45* from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45* from the vertical when in said second position.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said nozzle extends at an angle between about 15* and 17* from the vertical when in said first position and said nozzle extends at an angle more than 45* from the vertical when in said second position.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 9 further including: d. means for selectively supplying said fluid to said workpiece. 